Talk:Hethersett (horse)

A fact from Hethersett (horse) appeared on Wikipedia's Main Page in the Did you know column on 28 May 2013 (check views). The text of the entry was as follows:

Did you know... that when the racehorse Hethersett won the St. Leger Stakes in 1962, it was Dick Hern's first British Classic victory in his career as a trainer?

A record of the entry may be seen at Wikipedia:Recent additions/2013/May. The nomination discussion and review may be seen at Template:Did you know nominations/Hethersett (horse).

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I'd say he was retired in 1963 (more properly at the end of the 1963 season), as 1964 was his first season at stud. He had 3 seasons at stud and his success was curtailed by the fact that the owner who had most of his offspring, Brook Holliday, had his horses with Dick Hern (Holliday transferred his horses to Hern in early '68 after the sale/closure of LaGrange). Hern had the most virulent virus in his yard in 1968 and 1969. So many of the horses either didn't run or were badly affected by the virus. There were some successes and though you mention Highest Hopes, you don't mention she was Champion European filly of 1970. (Victor Middlesex (talk) 05:59, 18 July 2014 (UTC)).[reply]

You are right about the retirement date and I'm sure you are right about Hern virus which referred to in the Biographical Encyclopedia of British Flat Racing as striking in 66 and returning in 68 and 69. I'm not so sure about HH as Champion European filly of 1970 as there was no International Classification in 1970. She was Timeform's joint-top-rated 3yo filly with Miss Dan, but the highest rated filly of the year was actually the 2yo Cawston's Pride. Tigerboy1966 17:56, 18 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

btw do you know how Hethersett died? Injury or illness? Tigerboy1966 17:59, 18 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

3yo filly as stated in the Thoroughbred Breeder's Review of that year. Hethersett died from a brain tumour. Hern's belief was the knock on his head in the Derby was the cause and he is quoted as saying that in the Willett biography.(Victor Middlesex (talk) 08:40, 19 July 2014 (UTC))[reply]

Thanks, I've added that info and reference. I wouldn't normally do that unless I'd read the book myself, but you obviously know your stuff. Tigerboy1966 09:41, 19 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

I've got a paperback copy of the Willett biog, so I'll update the citation. Willett reckons "1966 saw the impact of the virus at its height...three years were to pass before the yard was clear of infection". The quote re Hethersett's death was "which left Dick wondering whether the cause may have been due to a trauma suffered in his fall in the Derby".--Bcp67 (talk) 16:04, 22 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Willett's book is generally good, but incorrect as to the years Holliday had his horses with Hern. He first sent yearling in the Autumn of 1967 and removed the horses in the Autumn of '70. Willett says only 2 seasonss, but if so how did Hern train Heathen to win the Greenham in '68 and Highest Hope to win her 4 races in 1970. That virus did for a lot of owners to my mind. Holliday might have sent Vaguely Noble to Hern, then we'd have lost that horse as well. (Victor Middlesex (talk) 04:15, 23 July 2014 (UTC))[reply]

Just added some stuff on Bride Elect's breeding. As regards Hethersett's first race Carr rode him and on dismounting said 'this is your Derby horse'. p89 of Willett's Hern biography. May be worth adding? (Victor Middlesex (talk) 03:37, 6 January 2015 (UTC))[reply]